Community Comes Together to Support Lawndale Family of Six Who Lost Their Home to a Fire
After a Lawndale family of six lost their home to a house fire nearly three weeks ago, the community came together to start a GoFundMe for the family.
The creator of the GoFundMe Martika Tucker, who works as a social worker with the Lawndale Elementary School District, said she felt compelled to create the GoFundMe to support a family who gives to others daily.
“This family exudes positivity and strength,” Tucker said. “The Bennett family is a hard-working, engaging family at the classroom and school-wide level. They contributed in a variety of ways to the Lawndale community with their wisdom, optimism, and friendliness.”
The Bennet family, which consists of four boys ages 7, 10, 12 and 15 and their parents Charlisse and Andrew Bennett, has been a part of the Lawndale Elementary School District since their 15-year-old son began the dual immersion program when he was 5 years old.
The family lost their home to a fire on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021.
“This experience is very emotional for us because it was our first home purchase from the last leader of my paternal side, my grandmother,” Charlisse Bennett saId. “The very house I grew up in.”
Charlisse Bennett said she was working remotely and stepped out of the house during her lunch break to make a call, while her husband was washing the car. While she was on hold, she and her husband began discussing plans for their son’s upcoming 10th birthday, when she heard something.
“Our 7-year-old ran down the hall toward the front door screaming ‘The couch is on fire! The couch is on fire!’” Charlisse Bennett said.
Charlisse Bennett said they later learned that the fire was dropping through the air ducts from the attic, which led to the house burning.
“Even though we safely evacuated, it still hurts to lose family pictures that I had no copies of, children photos, our childhood photos, and so much more,” Charlisse Bennett explained.
Despite the loss, Charlisse Bennett said she is grateful that the family has a chance to create new memories together.
“I want to thank the first responders at the L.A. County Fire Department who risked their lives trying to save our home,” Charlisse Bennett said. “Our neighbors who saw that we were all in deep agony as we stood in their yards to watch it all … I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide so much empathy, love, support, kind words, checking on us, and finding time outside of their busy lives to acknowledge us in some way big or small.”
The GoFundMe is aiming to raise $50,000 for the family. Currently, it has raised $7,200 of that goal. All donations from the GoFundMe will go directly to the family to support rebuilding their home, purchases of basic necessities for the family, temporary housing payment, and more.
To contribute to the GoFundMe, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bhtax-bennett-family-fire-recovery-fund
Learn about additional ways to give back in your community, check out our Kindness Community at Local Anchor.
